Photograph by Robert Scheer
Children crowd around teacher Vanya Jackowski in their portable classroom. With 28 students, it is the largest third-grade class at Saratoga School.
By Torre Peña
A model of patience, the Saratoga Union School District Board of Trustees continued its cautious approach to the state's wildly popular class-size reduction program by implementing the 20-to-1 program in second grade, but stopping short of extending class-size reductions to kindergarten or third grade.
"We know that in order to go forward, we have to add second grade," said Superintendent Mary Gardner. "Once we add second grade, that opens up the other options for us."
One of the other options the board may still consider for the 1997-98 school year is to reduce class size to no more than 20 students in either kindergarten or third grade. State funding, providing $666 for each student next year, is the incentive for classes maintaining a 20-to-1 student-to-teacher ratio. Currently, all first-grade classes are at the 20-to-1 level.
Next year the district will receive a projected $313,000 in state funds for the two grades. However, the need to secure three to four new portable classrooms and to hire new teachers accompanies the money. And some teachers and administrators argue that changes in first and second grade are all the schools can handle at this point.
"The space issue is a major consideration in this decision; we're being cautious but moving ahead," Gardner said.
At the March 25 board meeting, Gardner explained that hesitation over the issue stems from pending state legislation that proposes adding funding for all grades K-3. Another consideration, impacting kindergarten enrollment, is the possibility of pushing back birthdates for registering kindergarteners from Dec. 2 to Sept. 1.
As yet another option, the board could dip into state funding by extending the kindergarten day. Currently, kindergarten classes are staggered in two overlapping groups, enabling small-group instruction in the morning and afternoon. Lengthening the day would accommodate more small-group time when split-group classes don't overlap during the middle of the day. The district would receive half funding for this option, totaling about $70,000.
Although teachers praise the 20-to-1 ratio, it may compromise programs already in place.
"We were excited and eager about it until we found out the state raised the minimum amount of minutes that children would have to be in that small group," said Connie Clancy, an Argonaut kindergarten teacher and the district's kindergarten grade-level chairwoman.
The existing kindergarten schedule includes one nonsplit day for enrichment programs on Thursdays. Lengthening the day could wipe this out when schedules are toyed with. Clancy added that the presence of class aides already offers children one-on-one attention.
"The amount of individual time that we can give these children is incredible," she said. "Now what we have in place is the best of both worlds, and we don't want to jeopardize that."
In the name of equity, the board attempts to make districtwide policies. But some school site councils urge the board to consider individual school needs.
The Saratoga Elementary School Site Council, composed of teachers, parents and administrators, has not recommended 20-to-1 for its third grade.
"We just don't have the facilities for it," said principal Lily Ogden.
Because of increasing enrollment, the school is already adding a third grade. A fifth portable will be placed on the play field to house these students, encroaching on space for children at recess. Adding more portables would gobble up more field space.
The board has not ruled out implementation of any option for next year.
This article appeared in the Saratoga News, April 2, 1997.
©1997 Metro Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved.